fish and shellfish are managed by the VMRC. The battle to restore the badly depleted coastal menhaden stock con- tinues at the ASMFC, where new assessment guidelines are pending.
Chapter orchestrates striper as state saltwater fish
Virginia’s new state saltwater fish is the striped bass after CCA Virginia State Chairman Larry Snider and Vice President of Governmental Affairs Frank Kearney initiated the legislation through discussion with Virginia State Sen. John Miller.
The senator saw the initiative as a perfect project for schoolchildren to learn about an important Virginia resource, while also gaining an under- standing of their state’s legislative process. Following a presentation by CCA Virginia Vice Chairman Tom Raf- fetto, fourth grade students at Spratley Gifted Center Elementary School in Hampton championed the bill. The entire class traveled to the capi- tol in Richmond, and five students actually testified before the senate committee hearing the bill. Mrs. Michele Ferrel’s science class has been active in other conservation initiatives in the past, including the raising and releasing of brook trout in the rivers of the Blue Ridge. CCA Virginia assisted the class in their research on striped bass, and applauds their dedicated engagement. State Chairman Larry Snider spoke in favor of the bill and Jason McGarver of Trout Unlimited offered his support as well, which also re-designated the brook trout as the state freshwater fish.
Research finds myco in striper prey
Thanks to a $5,000 grant from CCA
Virginia, Brandon Rowan, a doctoral student researcher at ODU, has discov- ered that mycobacteriosis exists in most of the prey that rockfish seek. Prior to the study, marine scientists knew that myco was resident in men- haden, bay anchovy and white perch. The study conducted this past summer also found myco in eight new prey species, including mysid shrimp, grass shrimp, polychaete worms, blue crabs, blood worms, clam worms, and sum- mer flounder. Rowan was one of a select group of Virginia graduate stu- dents chosen to showcase their research at the State Library in Richmond.
TIDE
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WASHINGTON
Cowlitz River Advisory Group update
Working with WDFW, the advisory
group (which includes members from CCA Washington, Friends of the Cowlitz, CPR-Fish, Washington State Guides Association, and other mem- bers) recommended the volume of attractant water being released from the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery be sub- stantially reduced.
The high volume of attractant water
released from the collection facility into the fish ladder was drawing fish upriv- er at such an abnormally high rate of speed that it was almost impossible for sportsmen to catch fish moving upriv- er. By reducing the outflow of attrac- tant water, the fish are spread through- out the river system, and they travel upriver at a more normal pace, giving fishermen a better opportunity to har- vest the returning hatchery fish. CCAWashington thanks WDFW and
Tacoma Power for acting on our recom- mendation. It is making a difference. We look forward to working with them on additional Cowlitz River issues.
Reporting of derelict commercial fishing nets
Current Washington law only asks for voluntary reporting of lost and abandoned commercial fishing nets. Since 2003, only two nets have been reported under the current system. Derelict net removal operations in the Puget Sound have discovered a great number of newly abandoned nets, so it is clear the current system is failing. Millions of federal tax dollars have been spent on derelict net removal – a very worthy effort with huge conserva- tion benefits. However, this effort must be sup- plemented with a change to the exist- ing law to require reporting of lost nets to assure their timely removal from our waters. Lost and abandoned nets con- tinue to catch and kill marine life for years. Some estimates find that up to one third of all Puget Sound marine life is killed needlessly in these nets.
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